North Vancouver, B.C., native Eugene Wong won three tournaments in a row this year on the Canadian Tour.

Eugene Wong, who turned pro in July after a stellar NCAA career at the University of Oregon, got his first pro victory Aug. 26 at the Canadian Tour Championship at the Scarborough Golf and Country Club.

By:Daniel GirardSports Reporter, Published on Sun Sep 16 2012

It’s hard to imagine a golfer playing better than Eugene Wong these days.

Anywhere.

The native of North Vancouver, B.C., who turned professional in July after a stellar NCAA career at the University of Oregon, got his first pro victory Aug. 26 in dramatic fashion — sinking a 9-iron from 133 yards for eagle and a one-shot win on the last hole of the Canadian Tour Championship.

A week later, Wong, 22, fired a nine-under-par 63 to win the Vancouver Open, the marquee event of the very competitive Vancouver Golf Tour.

Then, last weekend, Wong was back in Ontario to complete the hat-trick, posting a nine-under-par 65 on Sunday for a one-shot win at the Great Waterway Classic in Ganonoque, the 2012 Canadian Tour finale.

Wong took time out this week from his preparations for the opening stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School to talk to the Star about his three-wins-in-three-weeks run, his soaring confidence and his future as a professional golfer.

A: Yes. I did it back in my last year of high school. I won the B.C. Junior, the Junior Worlds and the B.C. Amateur in three consecutive weeks. So, this gives me great memories from back in my junior days.

Q: Have you ever hit a more dramatic shot than the eagle to win the Canadian Tour Championship on the 72nd hole?

A: No, that’s the most dramatic shot I’ve hit in my life. So far.

Q: What was going through your head when you hit that shot?

A: I asked my caddy if the leader (Joe Panzeri) was at 13-under and he said ‘yeah.’ I said it would be nice if I could make the shot to win. And, as I stepped over the shot my caddy said ‘Just aim right at it.’ So, I did. When I hit it, I knew it was good, I knew it was going to be close but I didn’t think it would go in. Then, someone up there said it went in. I couldn’t see the hole because it was an elevated green. We were all stunned and excited.

I was just hoping to get it as close as I could to make birdie and get in a playoff.

Q: What did that win, and the way you won it, do for your confidence?

A: It proved to me that I could compete at the pro level now. Before, I was just out of college, my mindset was just to try to make cuts, make top-10s. To win was just a great confidence booster. It made me feel so much more comfortable out here now.

Q: Your second win wasn’t as dramatic but still came down to the last hole?

A: Yes. My opponent, Scott Stiles, had a one-shot lead until he didn’t have so great a last hole (chunked a wedge approach shot into a ravine on the way to a double bogey) and that’s how I won the tournament by one.

Q: When you get to Ganonoque, did you really think you could win again?

A: Yes, definitely. After winning two weeks in a row my mindset was that, confidently, I know I can win out here. That was my approach and I did it.

Q: Given your streak. I guess you would have liked to see the tour continue?

A: Yes, to keep it going would have been great. But it’s all good. My next tournament is (PGA Tour) Q-school in October. My confidence is sky high and I can’t wait to compete again and try to make my Tour card.

Q: Did you think your professional career would take off so quickly?

A: I never thought it would come together this quick. I was trying to just get my feet wet, just go slowly up the ladder. But for this to go the way they have, it’s been amazing for me.

Q: What do you consider your strengths?

A: I’m a pretty good driver of the golf ball off the tee. I’m pretty straight and accurate. Now, my short game has been better. And, my putting has been good. The past three weeks it’s been really good. Putting the ball in the fairway and making putts. It sounds easy but it’s the formula for playing good golf.

Q: What were your expectations going into your first year as a pro?

A: Basically, I was trying to make every cut. (He was four for four.) Try to a few top-10s, a top-5 and maybe even win a tournament. But for me to win three in a row? Wow. That’s just above and beyond my expectations.

Q: After a great run like this, do you have to guard against getting down on yourself when things don’t go as well, when you don’t win?

A: No. I won’t get down. My thing I’m looking to get into contention every time. If I get into contention a lot of times then the chances of me winning are going to be higher. If I don’t win but I’m in contention, then I’m happy about it.

Q: Do you believe, no matter where you win, junior, college, Canadian Tour, equips you to win at the next level?

A: Absolutely. It helps you know what it takes to win, what it feels like to be in the winner’s circle. It helps calm your nerves because you know you’ve done it. Winning is definitely the best way to test yourself how to win more tournaments. You win one tournament, two tournaments and you get in the habit of winning and that’s the mindset you’re comfortable in.

Q: You missed the cut at the Canadian Open this year. What did you learn playing that week on the PGA Tour?

A: After playing those two days with great players, you realize how good you have to be. My ball-striking wasn’t that good that week. After that week, I went back home and worked on my ball-striking, worked on my putting, sharpened them up because their ball-striking and playing is incredible out there. It showed me what it takes to be out there.

Q: This is your first shot at PGA Tour Qualifying School. Most don’t get their cards the first time. Are you prepared for that?

A: Yes. I’m determined to get it. But I’m also realistic. It’s only 25 spots out of hundreds and hundreds of people. You’ve just got to play your best and, if you do, you make it through and that’s great. If you don’t then you try to get the Web.com Tour (second-tier tour and goes to those who finish 26 through 75 at Q-school) and if not I’ll be back where I started on the Canadian Tour.

More on thestar.com

We value respectful and thoughtful discussion. Readers are encouraged to flag comments that fail to meet the standards outlined in our
Community Code of Conduct.
For further information, including our legal guidelines, please see our full website
Terms and Conditions.